Blackwood Creek 12-A dam
Blackwood Creek 12-A
Blackwood Creek 12-A is a local government-owned dam located in McCook, Nebraska, designed by the USDA NRCS with oversight from the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources. Built in 1988, this earth dam stands at a height of 68 feet and serves the primary purpose of flood risk reduction along the TR-Blackwood Creek. With a storage capacity of 11,205 acre-feet and a drainage area of 63 square miles, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region.
The dam's structural integrity is regularly inspected, with the last assessment in May 2020 deeming it satisfactory and posing a low hazard potential. With a flood risk reduction focus, Blackwood Creek 12-A ensures the safety of nearby communities and infrastructure from potential inundation events. Managed by local authorities and designed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, this dam exemplifies the importance of effective water resource management and climate resilience in the face of changing environmental conditions.
As part of the Omaha District's infrastructure, Blackwood Creek 12-A contributes to the overall water management strategy in the area, with a focus on maintaining satisfactory conditions and low hazard potential. With a history of effective flood risk reduction and a storage capacity of 11,205 acre-feet, this dam plays a vital role in protecting the surrounding community and supporting sustainable water resource management practices in Nebraska.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Blackwood Creek 12-A -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Frenchman Creek At Palisade | 13 cfs | → |
| Frenchman Creek At Culbertson | 24 cfs | → |
| Republican River At Mccook Nebr | 28 cfs | → |
| Driftwood Creek Near Mc Cook | 0 cfs | → |
| Republican River At Stratton | 23 cfs | → |
| Red Willow Creek Near Red Willow | 3 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Blackwood Creek 12-A.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Red Willow Reservoir State Rec Area
- Kiwanis Point Campground
- Buffalo Roam Campground
- Willow View Campground
- Swanson Reservoir State Rec Area
- Karrer Park
Track Blackwood Creek 12-A in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Blackwood Creek 12-A
Where does the data for Blackwood Creek 12-A come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the Low hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Blackwood Creek 12-A.